SOLSTICE MANDALA | ORGE KALODIMAS

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2014 | SOLSTICE MANDALA | ORGE KALODIMAS

THE STORY OF MANDALAMandala, loosely translated to mean circle, is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the Universe. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention, as a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing a sacred space, and as anaid to meditation and trance induction. In common use, mandala has become a generic term for any plan, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe.

Starting from Eastern religion the mandala has found its place in Western religion and psychology. In Christianity it represents the journey from the outer world to the inner sacred centre where the Divine is found. We owe the re-introduction of mandalas into modern Western thought to Carl Jung, the Swiss psychoanalyst. In his pioneering exploration of the unconscious through his own art making, Jung observed the motif of the circle spontaneously appearing. The circle drawings reﬂected his inner state at that moment. Familiarity with the philosophical writings of India prompted Jung to adopt the word “mandala” to describe these circle drawings he and his patients made.

As an artist, drawing mandalas is my personal deep meditation. It’s my way of connecting to the universe and to my audience. It is said by Tibetan Buddhists that a mandala consists of ﬁve excellencies. The teacher, the message, the audience, the site and the time. An audience is absolutely necessary to create a mandala and I thank you for being my audience.